Trunk-drawer construction



G. H. WHEARY.

TRUNK DRAWER CONSTRUCTION. APPLlcATxN man FEB. 2s. |916.

ATTUR/vv/E GEORGE HENRY WHEARY, 0F RACINE, WISCONSIN.

TRUNK-DRAWER. CONSTRUCTION.

Speccaton of Letters Patent.l

Patented Au0'. 12, 1919.

Application led February 28, 1916. Serial No. 80,858.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE HENRY VHEARY, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Racine, in the county of Racine and State of iVisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Trunk-Drawer Construction, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in trunk drawer construction.

Vardrobe trunks are usually divided vertically centrally into two sections to form a drawer section and a wardrobe section, the drawer section being provided with slidable drawers positioned 4one above another. 1n use the wood of which the trunk and drawers are formed shrinks, swells and warps so that in order to permit the drawers to slide freely at all times it is necessary to provide considerable lclearance between the drawers and the trunk section. While this clearance is necessary it is also very objectionable in that the front ortions of the drawers do not fit snugly in the trunk section and may eX- tend closer to one side than the other and present an unsightly and unfinished appearance. Furthermore, during transportation the considerable space permits the drawers to rattle and pound against the trunk section and thereby unduly wear the parts and disturb the contents of the drawers. It is one of the objects of the present invention to overcome the before mentioned objectionable features and provide a trunk drawel` construction in which the drawers are freely slidably mounted in the trunk section and when in closed position are held snugly and firmly in alined position.

A further object of the invention is` to provide a trunk drawer construction in which the means for maintaining the drawers in position also serves to reinforce the corner edge portions of the drawers.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a trunk drawer construction in which the means for maintaining the drawers in position also serves as a' guide means for centrally positioning the drawer` in the trunk section.

A further object of the invention is to provide a trunk drawer which is of simple construction, is strong and is well adapted for the purpose described.

With the above and other objects in View,

the invention consists of the improved trunk drawer construction and its parts and combinations as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawings in which the same reference characters indicate the 'same parts in all of theV views:

Figure 1 isa front view of a portion of a' wardrobevtrunk provided with a drawer of the improvedy construction;

Fig.' 2 is a horizontal sectional detail view taken on a larger scale on line 2-2 of Fig. 1'; and,

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional detail view of the trunk section and drawer, the drawer being shown as partly withdrawn from the trunk section to illustrate the manner of guiding the drawer into the said section.

l I Referring to the drawing, the numeral 5 indicates'aportion of the wardrobe section of a wardrobe trunk and which is usually provided with rear and side walls G and 7, and a front opening 8 and partitions 9 upon which `the drawers 10 (only'one being shown) are supported. While the supporting means are shown as partitions it is to be understood that side cleats or strips of any desirable form may be used for supporting the drawers as this feature forms no part of the invention.

The improved drawer 10 is of rectangular shape and is preferably formed of wood and at its front lower and side edge portions is reinforced by a U-shaped offset angularstrip of metal 11 formed of one or more pieces.

'The front portions 12 of the angle strips are positioned against the front face 13 and the side portions 14 of said strips are offset inwardly from the outer edges of said front face and in part bear against the side and bottom portions 15 and 16 of said drawer and are firmly-attached thereto in any manner desired. Holding extensions 12 of the front portion 12 formed by said side odset portions project beyond the side and bottom parts of the drawer and are connected to the offset side portions 14: by beveled outwardly curved guide portions 14. These guide portions serve to guide and position the drawer centrally in the drawer space and the holding extensions to maintain the drawer in its inner position {within the drawer space.

The outer edge portions of the U-shaped angle strip is of a size to snugly fit the drawer space whereas the drawer proper is comparatively small or is a Very loose lit so that it will not be bound or held by the warping, shrinking or expansion ofV the' parts.

When the drawer is in closed position the U-shaped angle strip will bear against the inner sin-faces of the walls of the drawer space and firmly hold the drawer in alined position with relation to other drawers.

F rom the foregoing description it will be eeen that the improved trunk drawer provides for a freely slidable drawer which is easily guided to a central position and is firmly held in closed position. The construction also provides for reinforcing the drawer and to give a more ornate appearance thereto.

`What I claim as my invention is l. The combination with a drawer coinpartment, of a drawer therefor, comprising a drawer member loosely fitting into the drawer compartment, and a separate U- shaped angular olfset continuous strip of reinforcing material mounted on the front edge portions of the drawer member and extending laterally beyond the sides and the bottom of said drawer member, the offset portions engaging the opposite sides and the bottom of the drawer member and being joined to the front edge portion by curved approximately obliquely extending guide portions, the obliquely extending portions guiding the drawer to a central position within the drawer compartment and the laterally extending portions closely engaging some of the walls of the drawer compartment to maintain said drawer member in closed position..

2. The combination with a drawer oompartment, of a drawer therefor, comprising a drawer member loosely fitting into the drawer compartment, and a U-shaped angular oli'set strip of material mounted on the front edgeportion and the sides and bottom of the drawer member and extending laterally beyond the sides and bottom of said drawer member, the offset portions engaging the opposite sides and bottom of the drawer member and being joined to the front edge portion by Curved approximately obliquely extending guide portions, the obliquely extending portions guiding the drawer to a central position 4within the drawer compartment andl the laterally extending portions' closely engaging some of the walls of the drawer compartment to maintain said drawer member in Closed position.

In testimony ture.

GEORGE HENRY WHEARY.

whereof, I aiiix my signa- Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. f 

